Abstract:

The preamble of the UN Declaration recognizes the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peoples, that indigenous peoples are free and equal to all other peoples, and have the right to be free from discrimination, in particular, discrimination based on their indigenous origin or identity (Article 2). When it comes to protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous peoples, parliaments and parliamentarians have a central role to play in law-making, adopting budgets, and overseeing the executive branch of government. These activities can involve a spectrum of rights that have an immediate impact and bearing on the lives of indigenous peoples. In this context it is important to address the triple discrimination faced by many indigenous women on account of their gender, their indigenous identity and their socio-economic status. Where parliamentarians and parliaments bear the responsibility of ratifying international human rights treaties, they, together with other branches of government, become the guardians of international human rights standards and their application in domestic contexts.